Joan "Joanie" Hamilton

Interment of Joan A. "Joanie" Hamilton, 77, occurred Tuesday in National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, in Phoenix.

Mrs. Hamilton, formerly Joan Amelia Hicks, died on Feb. 13, 2014, of a heart attack in the Casa Grande home where she was suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

She was born on a farm in Illinois on Feb. 7, 1937. Raised on the farm, she developed a love for animals, especially her pet cow that she used to ride. She had many hobbies and interests and loved to sew clothes not only for herself but for her husband and stepchildren. She also loved to knit and do needlepoint. She was a marvelous cook and baker and liked working outdoors.

She became a registered nurse after attending Northwestern College in Chicago and worked as a nurse on the Santa Fe Railroad between Chicago and San Francisco three times a month for several years. She then moved to Mesa and worked at Mesa Lutheran Hospital. She eventually moved to Chandler and worked at the hospital there and then doctor’s offices. She met Dwayne J. Hamilton in Chandler and eventually married him on Feb. 24, 1962, then moved to Maricopa in 1976, where they bought a home and settled down.

Survivors include her devoted husband of 52 years; a stepson, David Hamilton of California; a stepdaughter, Catheryn Ketchem of Arizona City; her 101-year-old mother in Illinois; two brothers, Robert of California and Donald of Illinois; a sister, Diane of Illinois; and five stepgrandchildren. She was preceded in death by a stepson, Joseph Hamilton.

J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud The Gardens Chapel was in charge of arrangements.